Sony's white PSP ads

saturnine · 07-10-2006, 11:55 AM

Has anyone else seen this? I'm utterly amazed Sony would think there's nothing wrong w/these ads.
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6153643.html?tag=nl.e513

Quote:

Sony's white PSP ad draws more fire
California Assemblyman Leland Yee says publisher "stoops to new low" with billboard; NAACP representative calls for ad to be pulled.
By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpot
Posted Jul 7, 2006 10:08 am PT

A Sony PSP ad promoting the new Ceramic White model of the system in the Netherlands is causing an international stir. Gaming Web sites and message boards have lit up with debate over the ad this week after a picture went up on digitalbattle.com, and now California Assemblyman Leland Yee and the San Jose/Silicon Valley chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) have made their feelings on the issue known.

In a statement titled "Sony stoops to new low with racially charged ad," Yee said he was "deeply disappointed" in the publisher's decision to run the ad, which features a white woman holding a black woman by the jaw in a threatening manner. Sony has said the ad, one in a series that features the white woman promoting the system in a variety of ways, was designed to show the contrast between the colors of the new and old PSPs, and has "no other message or purpose."

"Whether in the US or abroad, using differences in skin color to articulate the fact that your video game console now comes in white can be interpreted as insensitive at best and racist at worst," Yee said.

Rick Callender, president of the San Jose/Silicon Valley chapter of the NAACP, echoed Yee's displeasure.

"The days of blacks being portrayed in minstrel shows are long gone, and with good reason," Callender said. "The minstrel show was an awful chapter in history and this ad smacks of that age and time. It is even further unacceptable that some corporations still think it is ok to use racially charged media images. The latest Sony ad conjures up bad memories of when stereotypical and offensive images of people of color were accepted means of selling a product. Sony should immediately apologize and discontinue these archaic advertising tactics."

This is not the first time Yee has taken exception to actions in the gaming industry. He authored California's violent game restriction law (currently being challenged in the courts), and was among the first to call for a rerating of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas as a result of the Hot Coffee scandal.

dwaltin · 07-10-2006, 12:05 PM

wtf thats messed up

Dav_4550 · 07-10-2006, 12:12 PM

wow, that is just plain poor decision making.
Alright, I don't think Sony is racist, but they *should* be smart enough to know this is a poor advertising choice. How could they think it was going to be ok with the public? But it seems Sony is making a lot of questionable decisions lately. (such as making a system so expensive that it will alienate gamers)
oh well...they can just hang themselves I guess.

Mr_Stoukaph · 07-10-2006, 12:16 PM

heres something making fun of the sony ad.

Wii_Rulez · 07-10-2006, 12:18 PM

Very racist Sony. DS out sells the PSP any way. So who cares about another color.

Dav_4550 · 07-10-2006, 12:22 PM

yeah and Nintendo offers lots of colors and advertises in a non-controversial, non-racist way. Nintendo has their head on straight...I think all the Sony execs bought lots of drugs with their PS2 money and now their brains are fried and they're coming out with cracked out ideas.

Napalmbrain · 07-10-2006, 02:16 PM

Only a few days ago there was someone claiming LocoRoco is racist, now this!

I don't Sony are intending to be racist, but they should really do their market research first.

Mr_Stoukaph · 07-10-2006, 02:25 PM

maybe sony's just stupid. i'm going with that

Arcadium · 07-10-2006, 02:36 PM

yeah **** sony im white but i hate people who are racist with anybody

07-10-2006, 12:05 PM	#2
dwaltin The Dominator :P Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Right Behind You Posts: 246 Friends: 0	wtf thats messed up __________________

07-10-2006, 12:12 PM	#3
Dav_4550 WiiChat Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Blackhole Posts: 188 Friends: 0 7190-3324-3845-8331	wow, that is just plain poor decision making. Alright, I don't think Sony is racist, but they should be smart enough to know this is a poor advertising choice. How could they think it was going to be ok with the public? But it seems Sony is making a lot of questionable decisions lately. (such as making a system so expensive that it will alienate gamers) oh well...they can just hang themselves I guess. __________________ Wii, 2 Remotes, 2 Nunchucks, Classic Controller, Wii Sports, Wii Play, Zelda: TP, Resident Evil 4, Metal Slug Anthology, Guitar Hero III VC: Mario Bros, Mario Bros 3, Ninja Gaiden II, Sonic 2, Shinobi III, Soldier Blade, Blazing Lasers, Devil's Crush, Lords of Thunder, Harvest Moon, Super Metroid, Castlevania IV, Zelda: Link to the Past, F-Zero GX, Street Fighter II: Turbo, Axelay

07-10-2006, 12:18 PM	#5
Wii_Rulez Waluigi The Great Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 684 Friends: 0 3498-5538-0554-5440	Very racist Sony. DS out sells the PSP any way. So who cares about another color. __________________ "The Legend"

07-10-2006, 12:22 PM	#6
Dav_4550 WiiChat Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Blackhole Posts: 188 Friends: 0 7190-3324-3845-8331	yeah and Nintendo offers lots of colors and advertises in a non-controversial, non-racist way. Nintendo has their head on straight...I think all the Sony execs bought lots of drugs with their PS2 money and now their brains are fried and they're coming out with cracked out ideas. __________________ Wii, 2 Remotes, 2 Nunchucks, Classic Controller, Wii Sports, Wii Play, Zelda: TP, Resident Evil 4, Metal Slug Anthology, Guitar Hero III VC: Mario Bros, Mario Bros 3, Ninja Gaiden II, Sonic 2, Shinobi III, Soldier Blade, Blazing Lasers, Devil's Crush, Lords of Thunder, Harvest Moon, Super Metroid, Castlevania IV, Zelda: Link to the Past, F-Zero GX, Street Fighter II: Turbo, Axelay

07-10-2006, 02:25 PM	#8
Mr_Stoukaph WiiChat Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 1,436 Friends: 0 2509-0795-4188-6793	maybe sony's just stupid. i'm going with that __________________ When you wish upon a falling star, your dreams can come true. Unless it's really a meteorite hurtling to the earth which will destroy all life. Then you're pretty much screwed no matter what you wish for. Unless it's death by meteor. Madness does not always howl. Sometimes, it is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "Hey, is there room in your head for one more?" Eagles may soar but weasles don't get sucked into jet engines.


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07-10-2006, 02:16 PM	#7
Napalmbrain Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Cardiff, Wales Posts: 5,422 Friends: 17 Blog Entries: 2	Only a few days ago there was someone claiming LocoRoco is racist, now this! I don't Sony are intending to be racist, but they should really do their market research first.

07-10-2006, 02:36 PM	#9
Arcadium Not Banned Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colombia Posts: 2,274 Friends: 0 6980-3796-3948-8393	yeah ** sony im white but i hate people who are racist with anybody __________________ Name: Juan FC: 4253 0727 5993 No Asking For Rep**

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